Sunday, March 24

Street Food Market! 6 to 8 p.m.

The factory-sized San Diego Public Market morphs into a great market hall for an evening of global foods like papusas, udon and more, prepared by celebrated chefs. Be sure to haunt the carts run by the culinary stars out of Mexico--Corazon de Tierra's Diego Hernandez and Misión 19's Javier Plascencia, who is making his to-die-for goat birria tacos. Some featured vendors include Urban Solace, Azuki Sushi, Nine-Ten, Gaijin Noodle & Sake House, Carnitas' Snack Shack and MIHO's Stand and Deliver cart. Look for smoked Gouda-stuffed Gringo TJ Dogs at Andrew Spurgin's stand. San Diego Public Market, 1735 National Ave. Barrio Logan. $65; sandiegopublicmarket.com/street-food.html

A previous street food event, held at the San Diego Public Market. — Jen Dery for buttersage.com

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A previous street food event, held at the San Diego Public Market.
/ Jen Dery for buttersage.com

Monday, March 25

Evening of BBQ, Bourbon & Smoke

Matt Gordon governs Urban Solace in North Park, Solace & The Moonlight and Encinitas, and his empire will soon include Del Mar, at his upcoming Sea & Smoke restaurant. Did you know he oversaw True North Tavern's initial menu? He'll return to the place he once consulted for a four-course barbecue meal paired with bourbon and cigars! Starts at 6 p.m. 3815 30th St., North Park. (619) 291-3815 or truenorthtavern.com.

Wednesday, March 27

Acoustic Ales Dinner at The Grill at Torrey Pines

San Diego is bursting with breweries. One of the newest, Acoustic Ales Brewing Experiment, is located in an old brewery shut down during Prohibition. But they're trekking up the I-5, taking some Belgian-style and seasonal brews up for a beer-paired dinner at The Grill at Torrey Pines. Executive chef Daniel Boling rolls out five dishes, including shrimp and grits (paired with the Tush Double Dry Hopped Session IPA) and roasted leg of lamb (with Unplugged Oatmeal Stout). Reception at 6:30 p.m. $75. includes food, brew, valet, tax and tip. 11480 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla. (858) 453-4420 or lodgetorreypines.com/beer.

Chef Khristianne Uy won ABC's "The Taste" with the help of mentor Brian Malarkey (right). Chef K, as she's known, has been actor Charlie Sheen's private chef.— Courtesy photo

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Chef Khristianne Uy won ABC's "The Taste" with the help of mentor Brian Malarkey (right). Chef K, as she's known, has been actor Charlie Sheen's private chef.
/ Courtesy photo

Wednesday, March 27 through Friday, March 29

Guided to glory by local restaurateur Brian Malarkey, now Chef K's guesting in three of Malarkey's fabric-restaurant kitchens. Have her $100 five-course, wine-paired tasting menu Wednesday (dishes like root-beer braised short ribs and seafood chowder) at Gabardine. Move on Thursday to Searsucker and winning dishes from "The Taste" (from uni to crispy sweetbreads to duck two ways) paired with wines for $80. Friday Chef K's taking her knives to Burlap to collab on a Filipino-food menu with Malarkey and in-house chef/Pinoy authority, Anthony Sinsay: Adobo chicken liver arancini and braised oxtail are just some of the highlights, yours for $75. Contact the restaurants for reservations.

Tuesday, April 2

Chef Celebration Dinner Series kick-off at Pamplemousse Grille

There’s a feel-good purpose behind these Chef Celebration dinners — where veteran toques team up to raise culinary scholarship monies for the next generation of chefs. But it’s the taste-good element that will bring the gourmands out for this four-course, kick-off dinner, featuring chefs from Pamplemousse Grille, The Crossings at Carlsbad, the Del Mar Country Club, Rancho Bernardo Inn and Rancho Valencia. The series brings out more big guns, hits up more fine restaurants at La Valencia (April 9), Solace and the Moonlight (April 16), Terra (April 23) and Jsix (April 30). The cook-collab series closes May 5 with the $55 Chef Celebration Artisan Food and Craft Beer Festival at Stone Brewing World. 514 Via De La Valle, Solana Beach. (858) 792-9090 or chefcelebration.org. $65 per dinner.

Thursday, April 4

Taste of Leucadia

After seven years, Taste of Leucadia: Food for Thought returns! With live music and 14 restaurant participants all along Leucadia's 101 Main Street--Solterra Winery & Kitchen will open just in time for this taste of event. $20; $25 day of. 5:30 to 8 p.m. (760) 436-2330 or leucadia101.com

Saturday, April 6

VinDiego Wine and Food Festival

The VIP get early admission and first dibs on wine: 75 wineries are anticipated at this inaugural event, including Zinfandel-appreciative Terra d'Oro from Amador County, a lesser-known Northern California appellation. Food, a silent auction and seminars with vintners are offered, too. From 5 to 8 p.m., the Broadway Pier Pavilion, 1000 N. Harbor Drive, downtown. (760) 805-2131 or vindiego.com. $30 to $95 (VIP); Seminars $30.

Sunday, April 7; ongoing

Herringbone Sunday Supper

Gushtaba galore. Serious Shabdeg. It's chef Amanda Baumgarten's Sunday dinner series--three courses for $35-- dedicated this April to regional Indian cuisine. On the 7th Kashmiri dishes like lamb meatballs and meat stew are on the menu. On April 14, get tandoori pizza the Punjabi way. April 21 it's Delhi kebabs. April 28 Baumgarten turns to the Malabar coast and the seafood of Kerala. 7837 Herschel Ave., La Jolla. (858) 459-0221 or herringboneeats.com.

Monday, April 8 through Saturday, April 13

Thai New Year Songkran at Saffron

Local chef/author/PBS star/treasure Su-Mei Yu helps us bring in Songkran, the Thai New Year, with a week of events at her Saffron restaurants. Eat daily specials, take part in a Thai New Year “Baci” blessing at 6 p.m. Friday and get to the Street Food Market Saturday, April 13 from noon to 3 p.m., with made-to-order foods like savory Thai pancakes, beef salad and coconut macaroons served up on the sidewalk. India St., Mission Hills. (619) 574-7737 or saffronsandiego.com

Tuesday, April 9

Ballast Point Beer Dinner at Bistro West

Get into the more-casual side of this Carlsbad property, and get acquainted with San Diego's rising star brewery. For $65 you'll be loaded with four courses plus an aperitif, dessert, and beer pairings--e.g. the Ginger Big Eye IPA comes with chef Eugenio Martignago's curried seafood stew. Starts at 6:30 p.m. 4960 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad. (760) 930-8008 or bistrowest.com/events

Sunday, April 14

College Area Taste

Wake up to this early taste-of, happening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and including spots like Terra American Bistro, Cheba Hut and Bistro Sixty. $25; $30 day of. collegeareabid.com

Tuesday, April 16

Taste of Point Loma

The old Taste of Shelter Island is the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's show pony, and an assemblage of 14 restaurants, from Red Sails to Old Venice. It's from 6 to 9 p.m. and $20; but $15 if you ride your bike. showclix.com/event/TasteofPointLoma2013

Wednesday, April 17

Art Nights Downtown

An art crawl enhanced by hosted bites and drink specials, this even teams artists represented by Alexander Salazar Fine Art with three restaurants. See Richard Reyes' controversial illustrations at RA Sushi; abstract work from Jarod Farver at Spike Africa's; and contemporary paintings by Erik Skoldberg at Saltbox Restaurant. 6 to 9 p.m. Artists will hang near their canvasses, to discuss their work. Pick up your "passport" to the event at any of the restaurants, get a stamp, and walk to the Salazar gallery for a free toast (640 Broadway). Free admission with RSVP: rsvp@thenthelement.com.

Saturday, April 20

Strawberry Jam

Suzie's Farm supplies the produce to so many restaurants and local markets. This time they invite you to their south county farm to get your strawberries direct. Live music, farm tours and The Fermenters Club joins Jackie's Jams for demos. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Suzie's Farm 2570 Sunset Ave., suziesfarm.com.

Sunday, April 21

Fallbrook Avocado Fest

Our region produces the most avocados in America. And from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. rural Fallbrook shows off its green gold with exhibits, games, a farmer's market and of course, food made with this fruit. This is your best chance to try avocado ice cream. Main St., Fallbrook. fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org/events-v2/avocado-festival.html

Thursday, April 25

Vinitaly, Toast Enoteca & Cucina

Food and alcohol are the best cultural ambassadors, and for the annual Vinitaly push to embrace Italian wines, our downtown Italian wine bar is hosting a tasting with appetizers, antipasti and more. The bevs are rated highly by the Italian wine guide, Gambero Rosso. $50. Toast Enoteca & Cucina, 927 J St., East Village. RSVP (619) 269-4207 or toastenoteca.com